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DVLA Licensing

DVLA Driver Licencing and Owning a vehicle

Find the latest DVLA licensing information for motorists including how to apply for a licence, driving for a living and your responsibilities regarding ownership of a vehicle.
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Vehicle Theft and Safety
What To Do If Your Vehicle Is StolenWhat To Do If Your Vehicle Is Stolen
There are a few straightforward steps to take if your vehicle is stolen. Stage one is to contact the police. They report the theft to the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency on your behalf - and let them know if your machine is recovered. Before contacting the authorities make sure you know the vehicle's: manufacturer,...
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What To Do If Your Vehicle Has Been ClonedWhat To Do If Your Vehicle Has Been Cloned
'Cloning' involves transferring the identity of a non-stolen vehicle to a stolen one. The number plates and vehicle identification number, for example. This means that...
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Theft Resistant Number PlatesTheft Resistant Number Plates
Number plates can be stolen - then illegally transferred to other vehicles - so that further offences can be committed which are attributed to the legal owner of the r...
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Tips To Keep Your Vehicle SafeTips To Keep Your Vehicle Safe
The Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency has a few 'top tips' to keep your vehicle safe. Most are fairly obvious, but it is remarkable how many people fail to take even basic precautions. So, always lock the vehicle and either hide any valuables or take them with you. Keep the ownership document...
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Personalised Registration and Number Plates
How to Buy a DVLA RegistrationHow to Buy a DVLA Registration
Buying a DVLA registration is a cost effective way to personalise a vehicle. Technically, even after your purchase the Secretary of State owns the registration – but you have secured the right to display it on a vehicle. The rule is that the 'age identifier' must not make the machinery look...
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Transfer a Registration NumberTransfer a Registration Number
As a vehicle's registered keeper you can transfer its registration number to: another vehicle in your name, something you are buying, or someone else's car/motorcycle or HGV. To transfer the registration number between machinery both must be: registered with the DVLA, available for inspecti...
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Retain a Registration NumberRetain a Registration Number
As the keeper of a vehicle you can remove its registration and hold it on a retention document (V778). The vehicle must be: registered with the DVLA, available for inspection, of a type that requires an MOT or HGV test, and taxed. However, you can still apply if the vehicle is untaxed provi...
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How to Get a Number Plate MadeHow to Get a Number Plate Made
Number plates must conform to the standards defined by law, e.g. typeface, size, colour, etc. As such they should only be produced by registered number plate suppliers. These can be found online at www.direct.gov.uk. Before manufacturing the plates the supplier needs to see proof of your id...
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Owning a Vehicle
Changes to Your Registration CertificateChanges to Your Registration Certificate
The Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) must be informed immediately of any changes to your name and address. This ensures that your vehicle's registration certificate is up to date (V5C). The process is reassuringly simple. Write the new information in section six of the V5C - then sign...
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Tax Your Vehicle or Apply for a RefundTax Your Vehicle or Apply for a Refund
Taxing your vehicle is simple. Either complete Licence Application Form V10 or – if a reminder has been sent – Form V11. Both come courtesy of the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). Tax can be purchased either: online, by post, by phone, or in person at the Post Office/DVLA. Further pa...
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The MOT TestThe MOT Test
If your vehicle is over three years old it must have a valid MOT certificate. This can only be issued after an inspection confirms that it meets the minimum safety and environmental standards required by law. The MOT test must be repeated annually to evaluate your vehicle's: bodywork, struc...
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Motor InsuranceMotor Insurance
Motor insurance can cover you, your vehicle, and third parties. It provides financial support which might, for example, pay for vehicle and property repairs after a collision. It can also protect you against personal injury claims. There are several types of motor insurance. 'Third party' i...
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Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN)Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN)
The Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) tells the DVLA that your vehicle is off-road, unused, and untaxed. The declaration can be made online, at www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk. Alternatively, telephone: 0300 123 4321 and quote the reference number of your V5C registration certificate. Once t...
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Learners and New Drivers and Riders
Theory Driving TestTheory Driving Test
There are two parts to the computerised theory driving test - multiple choice and hazard awareness. Both must be completed satisfactorily to pass overall. The multiple choice section poses fifty questions, chosen randomly, from the one-thousand strong DSA database. Some of these include sim...
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Learning to Drive or RideLearning to Drive or Ride
Before learning to drive or ride you must acquire a provisional licence. Either complete DVLA Form D1, or apply at www.direct.gov.uk. The price is £50. If you want to learn to master larger vehicles, minibuses, or buses – and already hold a full UK licence – you need to apply for provisiona...
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Practical Car Driving TestPractical Car Driving Test
There are several significant parts to the practical driving test. The first is the eyesight check. The examiner asks you to read a number plate from a specified distance. If you cannot - the test ends immediately. This is followed by two, 'show me - tell me' style questions. You may be ask...
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Pass Plus SchemePass Plus Scheme
The Pass Plus Scheme helps new drivers become better drivers. As such it can boost your motoring confidence, reduce the risk of accidents, and lower vehicle insurance premiums. The scheme was designed by the Driving Standards Agency – with help from UK insurers and the driving instruction i...
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Driving Test FeesDriving Test Fees
The Driving Standards Agency recommends that you book your practical and theory tests at www.direct.gov.uk. This avoids the extra administration fees, as often charged by non- government booking websites. Theory test prices are: - car - £31.00 - motorcycle - £31.00 - bus, coach a...
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Driving For a Living
Becoming an Approved Driving InstructorBecoming an Approved Driving Instructor
Becoming an Approved Driving Instructor can be extremely rewarding – but rather challenging. For example, you must pass three Driving Standards Agency tests: the theory, the driving ability assessment, and the test of instructional ability. During 2009/10, only thirty-four per-cent of appli...
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Becoming a Lorry or Bus DriverBecoming a Lorry or Bus Driver
To work as a lorry or bus driver you must have the relevant licence entitlements. One for large commercial vehicles (LCV) - another for passenger carrying vehicles (PCV). These enable you to drive vehicle/load combinations of a particular weight, i.e. machine mass plus the maximum load capac...
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Becoming a Taxi or Private Hire DriverBecoming a Taxi or Private Hire Driver
To become a taxi or private hire driver you must: - be able to work legally in the United Kingdom, - hold either a full UK driving licence issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency - or a full European Union driving licence together with a UK paper counterpart Other re...
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Driver Certificate of Professional CompetenceDriver Certificate of Professional Competence
If you are a professional bus, coach, or lorry driver you must have a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC). Assessment is over four key areas: - theory test (multiple-choice and hazard perception) - case studies - practical test of driving ability - veh...
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Driver Licensing
What You Can Drive and Your ObligationsWhat You Can Drive and Your Obligations
The types of vehicles motorists can legally drive depends on their licences. Anyone who passed their manual test on/after January 1st 1997, for example, can drive machines up to 3,500kg with up to eight seats. These can have manual, automatic, and semi-auto transmissions. Drivers can pilot ...
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Driving Abroad on GB LicenceDriving Abroad on GB Licence
Your GB driving licence is valid in European Community and European Economic area member states. However, you must satisfy the minimum age requirements for each country – and this varies. The relevant countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Fi...
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Endorsements and Penalty PointsEndorsements and Penalty Points
The courts may endorse your licence with penalty points if convicted of a motoring offence. Each endorsement has a unique code, e.g. DR10 relates to drinking and drugs related convictions. Points range from one to eleven, depending on the severity of the offence. These stay on your licence ...
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Renewing the Photo on Your Driving LicenseRenewing the Photo on Your Driving License
The photograph on your driving licence must be renewed every ten years. This process needs to be completed before the licence expires. The easiest way to renew is online, at www.direct.gov.uk. You need your existing driving licence, a UK passport issued within the last five years, to be res...
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Your Health and DrivingYour Health and Driving
The Driving Standards Agency must be informed of any special needs when booking your practical/theory driving tests. This enables them to make 'reasonable adjustments'. These might include extra time, permitting assistance from a sign language interpreter, and help for non-English speakers....
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Need a New or Updated Driving LicenceNeed a New or Updated Driving Licence
The cost of a new or updated driving licence varies considerably. As such a provisional licence costs £50, whereas upgrading a traditional paper entitlement to a photocard is only £20. A disqualified driver pays between £65 and £90, but a standard renewal for motorists aged seventy-plus is ...
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Do It Online
Do It Online - Tax Disc and SORNDo It Online - Tax Disc and SORN
Applying for a new tax disk online - or declaring a vehicle SORN - is straightforward. Simply visit www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk, then select either 'apply for a tax disc now' or 'declare SORN' from the left hand menu. You then enter some further information, e.g. the reference number shown on...
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Do It Online – Check MOT Status and HistoryDo It Online – Check MOT Status and History
It is easy to check a vehicle's MOT status and history online. This is worthwhile if you are considering buying a particular machine. The online service enables you to confirm whether its certificate is legal, whether it passed first time, and whether the test highlighted any 'advisory' rep...
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Do It Online – Apply For Your Driving LicenceDo It Online – Apply For Your Driving Licence
Applying for a provisional driving licence online is convenient and straightforward. You simply need to know where you have lived for the last three years, have your National Insurance Number handy, plus your passport if you have one. Payment is by credit or debit card only and costs £50.00...
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Buying and Selling a Vehicle
Registering a VehicleRegistering a Vehicle
The registration process varies according to whether the vehicle is new or used. New machinery is normally registered by the supplier, then the DVLA's V5C registration certificate is sent to the keeper. Note 'keeper' - not 'owner'. Used vehicles have 'one' of several registration forms. The...
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Advice on Buying and Selling a VehicleAdvice on Buying and Selling a Vehicle
Buying a vehicle can be tricky, particularly used. There is no way to 'guarantee' a trouble free experience - but the following tips can minimise the risk: - be careful of adverts with mobile phone numbers – these make it hard to trace the seller if there is a problem after the transaction...
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Importing and Exporting VehiclesImporting and Exporting Vehicles
When vehicles are imported to the United Kingdom they must be registered with the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). This must be done as soon as possible. Brand new vehicles can be driven to the UK and registered as 'new' assuming they: - are registered within two weeks of collection...
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Driver DVLA Licensing Information

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